Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-05
Report of the Investigating Committee
Sent to Santa Cruz.

|
grounds whatever that would go to SUBJ
stantiate such charges. That he would
certainly have heard of any malicious mis-
chief, or depredations, had such been COM
mitted. That he knows of no
saloon or other place having
had glass or windows broken or any other
damage done to it. That some of the boys
were noisy at night, but subsidized on being
spoken to by himself or any of his officers.
That some man had reported that he had
been robbed by members of the regiment,
but the Chief placed
NO RELIANCE IN HIS STORY,
In fact, two days afterward had him ar
rested, and this same party is now serving
term at the City Prison for vagrancy.
The Chief further stated that from his own
personal knowledge and observation the
structures of the Sacramento Bee were to-
tally uncalled for and without foundation
III fact.
Mayor Effey stated that so far as he knew
the members of the regiment had behaved
themselves as they should; he was very
glad to have met them and hoped to do so
again at some future date. He placed no
reliance in newspaper reports as a rule.
unless authenticated. After having read
the articles in the Bee he was of the opinion
that it was more of an underhanded attack
on one particular member of the regiment
than just criticism on the acts of the First
Artillery. He thought we were very fool
lsh to take notice of any such articles.
knowing them to be false.
Officer Lunt said that he was on night
duty during the week the militia were en-
camped at Santa Cruz. With regard TO any
saloon being robbed or smashed up, or any
damage whatever done, We could state on
his authority that the statement to that
effect, as published in the Bee, was
A PLAIN, UNvARNIsHED LIE;
That no such thing ever happened at all.
He further stated that he was the officer
that had fired al our boys one night, and
had unfortunately struck one of them.
Nothing was further from his intentions
he had since seen the man that he shot,
and apologiZed and explained the matter TO
his satisfaction. The boys had done no
damage, created no disturbance beyond
singing and shouting at night, and he was
very sorry that he acted so hastily
Officer Myers, also night Waterman,
stated that he had been set upon one even
ing by five militiamen, who endeavored
to maltreat him; that he had immedi-
ately knocked down four out of
the five with his club, the fifth man taking
to his heels or he would have laid
him out too, .and there would have been
none left to carry the news of the fearful
slaughter. Your committee endeavored to
get this statement substantiated but from
the replies received from different CITY Off
Gals and others, concluded that this state
ment must be taken with a grain of salt.
This, coupled with the fact that there were
no broken heads or bloody noses in camp
the following morning, nor any reported
dead at roll-call, lead your committee to
believe that officer Myers desired to
COVER HIMSELF WITH GLORY,
Even at the expense of the reputation Of
the regiment, or of the truth, la Falstaff.
The members of the G. A. R. who acted
as the committee having in charge the Ell.
tertainment and dance given by Wallace
Post, say that they saw no riotous nor IN.
ruly conduct on the part of any of the
members of the First Artillery Regiment.
No beans were thrown about the hall,
neither was any bell rung to the annoy
ance of the guests there being no bell
there to ring. After the dance was over
there was a rush for the hat room, in
which there were but two small bows
to attend to the wants of all. Guests being
in hurry, passed the barrier and helped
themselves to that which they considered
their own. After the rush was over one
Mr.. Parker was minus his overcoat, and il
has not yet been found; this is the only
overcoat that was lost.
Mr.. Parker being interviewed stated that
he attended the above dance and put his
overcoat in the hat-room, for which he re-
ceived check; on claiming his overcoat
| it could not be found; he still has the check
but no overcoat. He does not accuse the
| militia of stealing it. He only knows that
he has lost it, and he seems to think that
the G. A. r. should make it good.
Mr.. Leybrant, proprietor of the bath.
house where the G. a. r. dance was given
says that he knows of
No BoIsTERoUs OR UNRULY CONDUCT
Being INDUCED in by members of the regi-
| ment. If such had been the case he would
certainly have known of it. No beans
were thrown about the hall, nor bell rung
AS to the alleged loss of overcoat, he doe:
not consider that the militia were any
more to blame than any one else who wa:
| there. If a little patience had been exer
| cised, each would have been waited on in
turn, and each would have received his
own.
Mr.. Miller, Of the Neptune Bath House
| where the n. S. G. W. gave dance during
the encampment, says that he is mem
Der of the above Order, and that his brother
| is President of the Parlor under whose au
| spices the dance was given that all mem
| bers of the regiment that attended his es
| Enlistment conducted themselves as gen
| tlemen, and both he and his brother tool
| pleasure in introducing the soldiers to any
or all of the ladies in the hall. That b,
knows OF nc such conduct being INDUCED
| in
AS SPOKEN OF IN THE BEEn
4 II.
Santa Cruz. Mr.. Miller further stated tina
they had contributed fifty dollars toward
bringing the regiment down, and should
be glad to do so again at any future time.
Your committee, in endeavorine
to locate the saloon where Sc
much damage was alleged to have beer
done, visited nearly every saloon il
Santa Cruz, but failed to find any place
that had had the front doors broken, win
| dows and glasses smashed" ETC., as stated
to be an absolute fact by the Bee, anC
vouched for by prominent citizens O
Sacramento Your committee publicly
reported that the purpose of their visit wa:
to make good any or all damage that ha(
been done by members of the regiment
but could find no claimants.
In regard TO the item published in the
Santa Cruz Sentinel that they knew lad,
that knew other ladies who had told of be
| ing insulted by members of the regiment.
your committee interviewed the editor O
the Sentinel on the subject, and he stated
| that they were not in the habit of publish
ing such far-fetched reports as rule, bu
| owing to the fact that they were unde
some obligations (pecuniary or otherwise)
to this lady, they were loath to refuse hel
| communication. He, (the editor how
ever, stated that he thought that b,
could produce some evidence on tina
subject himself. On being informed
that that was what was wanted, be
summoned four or five from an innel
room, who, On being questioned, STATED
| that they knew all about it; knew tina
ladies had been insulted on the streets, haC
read it in the Sentinel. On being informed
that this was not sufficient proof they con
| fessed it was about
| ALL THEY KNEW OF THE MATTER.
Finally, after some little delay, anothe
party was brought in who asserted that h,
I had heard and seen and was willing an(
ready TO swear to it. At last were III,
efforts of your committee about TO be re
warded. On being questioned this party
made the following fearful disclosures: FL,
was standing in front of the Pacific Ocear
Ho1se, as were also some members of tn,
| First Artillery Regiment. A gentleman
passed by with lady on either arm. On,
of the militiamen exclaimed "Ah there
nv fryinp-na1 ~ The oantJapeD ba;n,